With Brooklyn on the horizon, optimistic Islanders charge their way through camp, eye playoffs

SYOSSET, N.Y. – The New York Islanders, one of few teams that made news during the NHL's lengthy lockout, hope to continue to ride the attention wave into the shortened season.

And maybe make the postseason along the way.

The Islanders, who announced in October that they will leave the Nassau Coliseum for Brooklyn and the new Barclays Center in 2015, haven't qualified for the playoffs since 2007. Still, members of this franchise — a proud one that won four Stanley Cups in the 1980s — believe that drought could end for the team closes the doors on Long Island ... and maybe even sooner.

"Every team is optimistic," center John Tavares said. "I think it's trying to be consistent. It's critical for us to be sharp."

New York was the only member of the Atlantic Division last season to not reach 100 points. The Islanders went 34-37-11 for 79 points.